NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: May 10, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Stanley Cup Playoffs Action & Predictions

The Western Conference semifinals delivered major upsets as the Minnesota Wild handled the Avalanche 5-1 in Game, anchored by a 34-save performance from Jesper Wallstedt, who returned to the starting crease after being benched for Game. This loss marked the Avalanche's first of the postseason, forcing Colorado to pull starter Scott Wedgewood after he surrendered three goals on just 12 shots in under 25 minutes of play. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference saw the Carolina Hurricanes complete a sweep of the Flyers, winning 3-2 in overtime thanks to Jackson Blake's second goal of the night, pushing the Hurricanes to an untouchable 8-0 start to the playoffs, making Carolina the new favorite to win the 2026 Stanley Cup.

In other playoff action, the Golden Knights secured a Game 3 victory as Mitch Marner silenced critics of his postseason performance by netting a natural hat trick, helping his team gain footing in the series. Sunday features critical matchups, including a doubleheader broadcast on ESPN for doubleheader action, as analysts debate whether the Penguins can stage a comeback against Philadelphia. Betting markets remain highly engaged, with Sports Line's model projecting the Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres outcome for their Game 3 contest, while NHL analyst Scott Erskine cited Canadiens center Nick Suzuki as one of the top player prop bets available for the slate of games offering player prop analysis. Furthermore, new bettors can target these games via promotions, as Draft Kings is currently offering $100 in bonus bets following a minimum $5 wager across the NBA, MLB, and NHL cards.

League Offseason & Player Futures

As the playoff intensity builds, off-ice business continues to dominate headlines, particularly concerning high-profile player futures and prospect movements. Despite the Maple Leafs winning the NHL draft lottery, Auston Matthews' future in Toronto remains ambiguous, according to an NHL source speaking with ESPN. The Hart Trophy race concluded with the announcement that Connor McDavid, Nathan Mac Kinnon, and Nikita Kucherov were named the finalists for the league's MVP award. On the transaction front, the Chicago Blackhawks are welcoming prospect Roman Kantserov after his KHL contract was terminated, paving his way to North America. Attention is also focusing on the expected top selection of the upcoming draft, with media tracking the journey of Gavin McKenna, who is widely anticipated to be the No. 1 overall pick, leading into post-lottery mock drafts projecting the rest of the top 16 selections.